Europe Is Testing The World’s First Digital Passport In Finland

Forbes ^ | Sep 6, 2023 | Suzanne Rowan Kelleher

[george76]

By 2030, the European Union expects 80% of its citizens to opt for a digital passport..

For the first time, a nation is allowing travelers to cross its border with a digital passport on their smartphone instead of a physical passport. While the trial is happening in Finland, the European Union wants at least 80% of citizens in the 27-country bloc to be using a digital ID by 2030.

The pilot program, which started at the end of August, is available only to Finnish citizens. It is running at Helsinki Airport as a partnership between Finnair, airport operator Finavia and the Finnish police. Through the end of February 2024, Finnair passengers flying to and from three United Kingdom airports can pass through border control using new voluntary “Digital Travel Credential” (DTC).

Raja, the Finnish Border Guard, says travelers using the new digital credentials can “pass through border control faster and smoother than usual without queuing.”

The European Union is co-funding the pilot project with €2.3 million (US $2.5 million). Along with the six-month trial in Helsinki, the E.U. is planning other pilot programs for Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport in Croatia and Schiphol Amsterdam Airport in the Netherlands.

Europe’s move toward a single framework for digital identification is an overarching goal of the eIDAS Regulation passed in 2014. The regulation aims make electronic interactions between businesses and individuals safer, faster and more efficient, no matter where in Europe they take place.

[fortes fortuna juvat]

Please keep me on the list. Thank you!

[Obadiah]

REQUIRES having a cell phone-—which many do not have.

Isn't that racist?

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Though this is anecdotal, unlike the way I usually like to comment, my wife and I were aware of the elite European Commission's work towards a digital pass as early as 2015, with public documents from that time. The goal of this was accelerated by the “pandemic” and now the call for it to be put into “service” is because they will likely be assessing the “uptake” — same vocabulary as with the “uptake” numbers for mRNA products — by users over time. While many may sign on, some will “sign off” or not use the DTC, preferring the passports in paper. But this has been in work since at least 2015. Including psy-ops to further their interests. Power and control.

[Zathras]

Congress had the chance to address this 20 years ago.
They invented “do not call” list throwing a bone at voters.
It was a head fake to keep from blocking fund raising calls.

[oldtech]

If this digital passport would be registered on someone’s cell phone, I would hope be more reliable than mine or one could find themselves stranded in a foreign country.